Agreed, first play through I want to experience as much of the game as possible - will also inform me on what various different self imposed styles could be fun/doable for later playthroughs.
I don't think we will have much of a realistic option to "stay stock" if we want to be able to drop, at least not in the early game. Replacing an AC/5 with an AC/2 might take the 'Mech from "stock", but it will also put the 'Mech on the battlefield - and I assume we're not going to have the luxury to be picky enough to say that "it stays in the hangar until I can get hold of another PPC". Later in the game, sure that might be a possibility, but not starting out.
Indeed. If putting an AC/5 on a CN9-A in place of a destroyed AC/10 (and adding another LRM-10 and a ton of ammo if I have them handy) makes me able to drop a full lance, that's what I'll do. If I later get hold of another AC/10 that Cent might go in for a refit again and go back to stock, but if it's a choice between going non-stock and not dropping, I'm going non-stock. I have bills to pay!Exactly. Attrition in the campaign mode will force us to be creative with the tools we have at hand. While I'm also a huge fan of stock Mechs (more individual mech personality that way), I rather have a Mech cobbled together, than do a drop with an under-strength lance because I couldn't get over my focus on "stock" mechs.
You guys are brutal . Respect.
Wouldn't replacing destroyed equipment technically require the mechlab?
I'm gonna lay a bet on stock mechs being untenable after the first mission.Just because it will be hard, will not stop me from trying my damndest to make it happen. My personal goal is to see just how far into the campaign I can maintain stock units.